Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in the twelfth installment of Darynda Jones’ New York Times bestselling paranormal series.

Ever
since Reyes escaped from a hell dimension in which Charley accidently
trapped him, the son of Satan has been brimstone-bent on destroying the
world his heavenly Brother created. His volatile tendencies have put
Charley in a bit of a pickle. But that’s not the only briny vegetable on
her plate. While trying to domesticate the feral being that used to be
her husband, she also has to deal with her everyday life of annoying all
manner of beings—some corporeal, some not so much—as she struggles to
right the wrongs of society. Only this time she’s not uncovering a
murder. This time she’s covering one up.

Add to that her new
occupation of keeping a startup PI venture—the indomitable
mystery-solving team of Amber Kowalski and Quentin Rutherford—out of
trouble and dealing with the Vatican’s inquiries into her beloved
daughter, and Charley is on the brink of throwing in the towel and
becoming a professional shopper. Or possibly a live mannequin. But when
someone starts attacking humans who are sensitive to the supernatural
world, Charley knows it’s time to let loose her razor sharp claws. Then
again, her number one suspect is the dark entity she’s loved for
centuries. So the question becomes, can she tame the unruly beast before
it destroys everything she’s worked so hard to protect?

Now you see him, now you don't. I love that things aren't always as bad as they seem to be at the end of
the previous book, but man, waiting to find out is always a killer.

Charley continues to amaze me. I know that this is a story, but when I'm reading, it really does feel like real life and I can't fathom how Charley continues to do all she does. Well maybe I do, a lot of coffee and humor might have something to do with it.

There was quite a bit of things in THE TROUBLE WITH TWELFTH GRAVE that surprised me. We get answers to things we didn't even know we didn't have the answers to. People we didn't expect to see show up in unexpected places. Characters we didn't think could get any more awesome, get even more awesome. You would think after 12 books that not much else could surprise me—good and bad—, but Darynda Jones continues to pull out all the stops when it comes to her characters, their world and the storyline I can't seem to get enough of.

I have a lot of feelings about a lot of things in the twelfth installment of the Charley Davidson series, but I don't want to give anything away, it would totally kill your reading experience.

The end is upon us. How will things end for the Charley Davidson series? I am both excited and sad to find out.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

To the north of the
Varis empire, a mysterious faction spreads propaganda against the
vampire monarchy. Friedrich Volya, the Duke of Winter Hill, seeks to
discover who they are before his uncle finds them first. King Dominik
will punish the traitors with brutal force.

Local schoolteacher,
the raven-haired Brennalyn, is on her own mission—to spy on the duke and
discover what she can for the Black Lily. She longs to help the
commonwealth and bring justice to the many orphans left behind from the
ravages of the blood madness, like the children she lovingly keeps in
her care. What she doesn’t plan for is the heart-pounding attraction she
feels for the duke, enemy to the Black Lily.

But when
Brennalyn’s secret puts her life and the life of her children in danger,
Friedrich steps in as her protector, she finds out there’s more to the
duke than she thought.

I was a little hesitant to pick up THE WHITE LILY after THE RED LILY. Book two just didn't draw me in like THE BLACK LILY did and I was nervous that book three would be the same way. Thankfully THE WHITE LILY left me wanting more.

I very much enjoyed Brennalyn from the start. I loved her independence, her fortitude, her heart, her spirit and her loyalty. Her children were just as likable and they fit so well into the story. Friedrich wasn't an instant like for me. I didn't dislike him, just didn't instantly stick out as likable. We did meet him in THE RED LILY and for some reason I pictured him as someone completely different than what he ended up being. He grew on me pretty fast and was definitely worthy of Brenna and her children.

The romance was fun. No matter how hard feelings were denied, the attraction and draw to each other continued to show strong between Brenna and Friedrich. Everything happened at a slow burn and that is how I prefer it. Even though the romance was the focal point of the story, the plot still continued the overall Vampire Blood mission.

The ending of THE WHITE LILY was great. I love that all the characters are together again and I hope we get some good stories out of them in the next book before they separate.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

To the north of the
Varis empire, a mysterious faction spreads propaganda against the
vampire monarchy. Friedrich Volya, the Duke of Winter Hill, seeks to
discover who they are before his uncle finds them first. King Dominik
will punish the traitors with brutal force.Local schoolteacher,
the raven-haired Brennalyn, is on her own mission—to spy on the duke and
discover what she can for the Black Lily. She longs to help the
commonwealth and bring justice to the many orphans left behind from the
ravages of the blood madness, like the children she lovingly keeps in
her care. What she doesn’t plan for is the heart-pounding attraction she
feels for the duke, enemy to the Black Lily.But when
Brennalyn’s secret puts her life and the life of her children in danger,
Friedrich steps in as her protector, she finds out there’s more to the
duke than she thought.

Book 2, THE RED LILY, will be on sale for .99 from 10/30 - 11/5

Long Excerpt:

On the next turn, he pulled her close, till her breasts brushed his chest. The friction, as brief as it was, rasped her nipples. She gasped then quickly clamped her mouth shut, trying to put some distance between them. But he was in full control, his large frame engulfing her, his intimidating presence swallowing her with each turn.

“Your dress is quite beautiful on you.” He ignored her question entirely. “So much more appealing than your gray frocks.”

“What is wrong with my frocks?”

“They’re hideous.”

She gasped. “My frocks are entirely suitable to a woman of my role in society.”

“And what role is that? An old crone?” She caught his mischievous smile. He was goading her. And it was working.

“An unmarried woman. The town’s schoolteacher.”

He scoffed, slowing their waltz. “You think yourself a spinster at three and twenty? I think not. I’m going to burn every one of them when I get the chance.”

“Your Grace. You will do no such thing. You have no right to destroy any of my possessions.”

He grinned and slowed their forward movement to a stop, drawing her even closer. She tried to step from his embrace, but he held her good.

“Your Grace?”

“I’m not quite sure you know what’s happening between us, Miss Snow. But let me be clear. Those hideous rags are not worthy of your luscious body. Not worthy of you. You may try to hide your beauty behind drab colors and formless frocks and tight buns. But I see what’s beneath. And I want—no, I will have you in all your glory. Therefore, prepare yourself to be draped in silk quite soon.”

She saw the lion in the man, gazing down at her with steadfast calm and confidence. All of which was breathtaking and alluring. She spent the majority of her life trying to order and control her surroundings, only to find her world tilted at every turn. She wondered how the duke would feel to lose his control.

“It must be very difficult,” she said.

“What must be difficult?” He swept her away from clumsy Mr. Powell, who nearly barreled into them with his dance partner.

“Believing that you own everyone you meet.”

“You wound me. I don’t believe that at all.”

“Really? You just stated as if it were a decree that I’d be draped in silk. What if I don’t like silk?”

His smoldering smile made her knees buckle. “Come now, Miss Snow.” He leaned close to her ear, his lip brushing the shell as he whispered on the turn, “If not a silk dress, how about silk sheets?”

She laughed, his naughty teasing bringing a heated flush to her face. “You’re most improper for a royal duke.”

“Thank you,” he said with a smirk. “I do my best.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

“It most certainly was.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Well, whatever you may believe, I’d like to clarify that you do not own me, Your Grace.”

“I don’t want to own you, kitten. I want to possess you.”

“There is no difference.”

“Indeed. There is.”

Eyes darkening and hooded in shadow, she caught them drifting over her face before they landed on her mouth. His own parted slightly.

“Your Grace,” she warned, “if you are making plans to kiss me on the dance floor, let me tell you that it will not be welcome.”

“All right. Will it be welcome in my carriage on the way home?”

She arched her brow. “Are you always so forward with ladies you’re trying to woo?”

“No. Indeed not. I’m usually much more charming, but you seem to bring out the beast in me, Miss Snow. I’d rather skip all the games and get straight to the prize.”

__________________________________

Juliette is a multi-published author of paranormal and fantasy romance and
lives in lush, moss-laden Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids,
and black lab, Kona. She loves reading and writing brooding characters,
mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes.

From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the
Gothic romance. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic
worlds, she wanted to create her own.

A banished princess.A deadly curse.A kingdom at war.Wil
Heidle, the only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation,
has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to
serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire
is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond
her kingdom, if only her father would give her the chance.Until
one night Wil is attacked, and she discovers a dangerous secret. Her
touch turns people into gemstone. At first Wil is horrified—but as she
tests its limits, she’s drawn more and more to the strange and volatile
ability. When it leads to tragedy, Wil is forced to face the destructive
power within her and finally leave her home to seek the truth and a
cure.But finding the key to her redemption puts her in the path
of a cursed prince who has his own ideas for what to do with her power.With
a world on the brink of war and a power of ultimate destruction, can
Wil find a way to help the kingdom that’s turned its back on her, or
will she betray her past and her family forever?

THE GLASS SPARE is another one of those books that I'm not totally convinced on my feelings about it. On one level, I read it and didn't have issues with it while reading, but looking back there are a few things I can think of that were lacking. I will know my rating—and so will you—by the time I'm done writing my review.

I will start my review by telling you what I enjoyed. I really enjoyed Wil's relationship with her brothers. They have a tight bond and are willing to do anything for each other. I would have loved to read more about them before things turned. For the most part, I enjoyed the characters. They worked well together and some interesting people were thrown into the mix. The technology that is involved in THE GLASS SPARE was fun and interesting to read about. Had a bit of a steampunk type feel to it.

After coming back to write my review, these are the issues that popped up as I was thinking about what I thought about THE GLASS SPARE. The world building wasn't very strong. I didn't get lost in the world or feel the world around me while I was reading. I could picture things, but I didn't get drawn in. The romance just was. Nothing swoon worthy and feelings developed pretty instantly. There was no build up and I just didn't feel the "feels" they were trying to throw out. The pace tended to be a bit slow at times.

I would probably read more if the sequel was to fall into my hands, but THE GLASS SPARE didn't leave me yearning for book two.

I gave it 3/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, October 23, 2017

They call him StoneKing: the lord of four countries, the vanquisher of the
Wichelord Daazna, the man who will restore his people to prosperity and peace.

But there is no peace for Kristan Gemeta. Already weighed down by the cares
of his new realm, Kristan carries a secret burden – the knowledge that Daazna is
not dead. He isolates himself in his ruined castle in Fandrall, where he
struggles to control the destructive Tabi’a power that may be his only hope of
defeating the Wichelord once and for all.

And there’s trouble elsewhere in his realm. His Reaches are squabbling in
Dyer, Melissa and Nigel are experiencing heartache in Norwinn, and Heather’s
command in Hogia is in jeopardy. Unaware of this turmoil, Kristan receives an
unexpected gift – one that forces him, his knights, an inexperienced squire and
a crafty young shape-shifter into a hazardous winter journey.

__________________________________

Donna Migliaccio is a professional stage actress with credits that include
Broadway, National Tours and prominent regional theatres. She is based in the
Washington, DC Metro area, where she co-founded Tony award-winning Signature
Theatre and is in demand as an entertainer, teacher and public speaker. Her
award-winning short story, "Yaa and The Coffins," was featured in Thinkerbeat's
2015 anthology The Art of Losing.

Never
let it be said that Kit Colbana had ever been given the easy road. Or
even the semi-paved road. Only weeks after dealing with the
mysterious—and murderous—being called Puck, she’s got another killer on
her hands. Perhaps even two.

Some of the bodies turning up bring
up haunting memories of a past she longs to forget, but as always, that
past is chasing her at her heels, like a hated shadow.

As the
body count racks up, there’s an imbalance of power, particularly among
the vampire population, and Kit must yet again deal with ugly memories
as one of the monsters who tried to break her is set free to deal with
the imbalance of power. Yet while a power struggle rages in East
Orlando, there’s another, more subtle battle taking place and Kit feels
like the center of it all.

Arrogant? Maybe. But the dead bodies
don’t bear the mark of her grandmother’s pet killer by sheer
coincidence…and she doubts her nemesis being released is either.

Kit is a very complex character with a very tangled past—and sometimes present—that never ceases to amaze me even after 6 books. I haven't always loved each and every book, but I always enjoyed them and HAUNTED was one of the better ones.

There was a lot happening in HAUNTED BLADE. There was plenty of action, plenty of overall story development and plenty of twists. The suspense was pretty consistent from front to back and I can't even begin to tell you how many feelings—good and bad—each scene invoked. I wish the pace would have been a little smoother and there were a few points in HAUNTED BLADE where the scenes were a little choppy, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

As for the ending of HAUNTED BLADE all I have to say is what just happened? Is it really ending there? How long do I have to wait to find out what will happen next? Ahhhhh I definitely need more.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

In the first
installment of Terry Spear's bold, sexy White Wolf series, a romance
writer's life is changed forever when a white puppy bites her and turns
her into an Arctic wolf shifter.May all your Christmas wolves be bright...Romance
writer Candice Mayfair never missed a deadline in her life--until the
playful bite of a werewolf puppy accidentally turns her into an Arctic
wolf shifter. Talk about a life-changing event! Candice is at the end of
her rope with the unpredictable shifting, a strong desire to howl, and
the need to vacuum constantly to keep the shedding fur under control.Enter
werewolf private investigator Owen Nottingham. Owen has a new mission:
convince the pretty she-wolf she needs to join his pack in time for
Christmas...and be his mate. It's the only way he can think of to keep
her safe...

Excerpt:

Candice had been writing for two days straight, working on her publisher’s book deadline, when she wrote the ending, smiled, and set the book aside. She would start proofing it tomorrow after she’d given her brain a break. Now she’d do what she always did when she finished a book or reached a good stopping point in one. Clean house. Check her backlog of emails. Pick up some more groceries. And take a run on the wolf side.

She finished vacuuming and dusting, swearing every window must let in all the outdoors, and then started a batch of gingerbread cookie cutouts to celebrate the Christmas holiday season and finishing another book. While they were baking, she finally settled down to check her emails. Fan mail always came first, and one from her website got her attention right off. She opened it and read:

Hello, I’m Owen Nottingham, private investigator for White River Investigations, White River Falls, Minnesota. My client, Strom Hart, hired me to locate you. Your parents, John and Cynthia Hart, left you an inheritance, and you need to see the lawyer about it so you can claim it. I need to verify that

you are the right woman first. Is there any way we could meet and get this taken care of so you can collect your inheritance? Strom Hart will be the one to receive it by the end of the month otherwise. His assistant, Jim Winchester, said Mr. Hart is your uncle.

Candice reread the message, not believing her eyes, tears filling them. She quickly looked at the date of the message. Two days ago! She knew she shouldn’t have neglected her emails, but when she was into a story, she couldn’t break away.

She ground her teeth, raised her fingers to respond, and heard a knocking at her door. No one came here. Never. Ever. Not even salesmen.

She glanced at her phases-of-the moon calendar. The waxing gibbous was just beginning. She should be fine. Just to be on the safe side, in case the person at the door was trouble, she pulled a can of mace from her desk drawer and headed for the door. She peered through the peephole. Waiting at the door was a handsome black-haired man with rugged features and intense blue eyes. He was dressed in a black suit, a red shirt, and a dark-purple tie covered in red, purple, and gold Christmas balls. She raised her brows.

“I’m Owen Nottingham,” he said to the door, holding up his PI license and driver’s license. He couldn’t know that she was watching him, so he must have hoped she was there, observing him. “I tried getting ahold of you through the contact form on your website about your inheritance. Your contact form might not be working, so I had to locate you in person.”

So this was the man who had sent the message. Was he for real? He had to be. He wouldn’t have come all this way to see her if he wasn’t. But how had he found her?

Candice opened the door, the bells jingling on her Christmas wreath, and the man glanced down at the can of mace in her hand. He smiled, his gaze holding hers with such intensity that it was as though he could see clear through to her soul. “Really, just a PI doing my job.”

A chilly breeze carried his scent to her. Wolf scent. All at once, she felt so light-headed that she grabbed the door to keep herself upright and dropped the can of mace on the tile floor. It clattered, but she couldn’t have reached for it if her life depended on it.

Oh. My. God.

This couldn’t be real. He couldn’t be real. No wonder he’d been talking to the door. He must have heard her footfalls as she’d approached.

He took a deep breath at the same time, and when he smelled her scent, his eyes widened in surprise. His hand shot out to grab her arm and steady her. For a minute, she tried to control her breathing and her heart rate, neither of which she could steady. She felt like she was going to pass out.

“Hell, you’re the wolf I saw across the White River, aren’t you?”

Her jaw dropped, and her knees buckled. He swept her up in his arms and she wanted to object, but he slammed the door behind him with his hip and carried her into the house. He was the wolf she’d seen across the river that day on the camping trip in Minnesota two years ago, sipping from the water? She still remembered it like it was yesterday. Him looking up and seeing her staring at him while she’d believed she was hallucinating.

Until the next night, and then she knew she hadn’t been dreaming at all.

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over sixty paranormal
and medieval Highland romances. In 2008, Heart of the Wolf was named a
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A retired officer of the U.S. Army
Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all
over the world. She lives in Spring, Texas with two Havanese puppies.

In the beginning, there
was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and
laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be
dark—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight.
The destroyer. The death bringer.

These are the legends that
Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up hearing in hushed
whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until
she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that
she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves
her feeling more like a weapon than a girl.

Asha conquers each
dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from
the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a
man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s
offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the
most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth
to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help
of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must
shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love,
light, and a truth that has been kept from her.

Even months after reading THE LAST NAMSARA I am still on the fence with my rating.

The world building in THE LAST NAMSARA was fantastic. Ciccarelli set up every scene so that I had no problem picturing it in my mind. I found the storyline to be both imaginative and original and I really loved how the author incorporated the dragons into everything.

So why might I be on the fence with how I felt? Well I loved the plot and the world, but the characters didn't really blow me away. I liked Asha. She had some great growth throughout the book, but I didn't love her. I liked the supporting characters, but again, didn't love them. The relationship between Asha and Torwin didn't really draw me in and I wish that we got to see more of Safire's story.

Even though my overall feelings about book one in the Iskari series are stuck in the middle, I had zero issues staying interested in THE LAST NAMSARA and will keep my eyes out . THE CAGED QUEEN is set to come out in the Fall of 2018 and I see myself giving it a shot.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, October 16, 2017

What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

I’m a big geek. And I mean really big. I geek out on Star Wars and super heroine movies, and I wish I was Wonder Woman saving the world, or Rey wielding a blue light saber to protect the Jedi. I also want to be a lion shifter. So I guess my dream movie would be about a lion shifter with Jedi powers saving the world. Wait a second, that sounds a lot like my latest books ;)

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

Lots of things. I’m a big fitness fan, so I’ll head to the gym, or jog or bike if the weather is good. Or I’ll pick up a good romance if it’s a rainy day. I’m also a bit of a foodie, and since I never was that great of a cook (unless you count Mac n’ Cheese, which I can make really well!!!), I like to support local mom and pop restaurants. Especially on the Italian side. Mmmm, pasta.

What is your Favorite part of writing?

The freedom to be whoever I want. In all my books, I’m the heroine, living the life of my dreams. I’m in complete control of my destiny, able to do things, see things I could never do in real life. So I guess, setting my imagination free, that’s my favorite part of writing.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

I try to write first thing after eating breakfast. I don’t like to check email or other distractions until the end of my writing day. I’ll sip on water throughout the writing session (or tea if it’s cold), and I’ll usually take a break every three hours to have a small meal.

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?

How would you pitch Dragon’s First Rule to someone who has not heard of it before?

It’s a story about Ariel, a broken lion shifter, and a world-weary dragon shifter, Jett, who just so happens to be king of the known world. When Ariel catches the eye of this dangerously attractive king, the two are swept up in a maelstrom of magic and forbidden passion.

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that Dragon’s First Rule is set in?

Sure. It’s a world secretly ruled by seven kings and queens, known as the Council of Seven. Three are dragon. Three vampire. And one witch.

The heroine’s love interest, Jett, is a member of the Council of Seven: he’s the king of North America. He’s also a dragon shifter.

In ancient times, dragon shifters were spread across the world. Many lived in tribes, but many more lived alone in private dens. Jett and his father worked to unite those living in North America under one rule, and his father became the first of the seven secret kings. Together he and Jett built Midnight, a massive subterranean den, and invited the dragons to leave their tribes and solitary dens to live there under the king’s protection.

Jett remained in the countryside, working to gather the tribes into larger dens for their own protection, and securing the allegiance of the different shifter crews. He also acted as the emissary to the other seven kings and queens who arose across the world.

After the Great Vampire War, his father abdicated the throne to Jett, leaving it up to him to keep the dragons of North America united, and the shifters and vampires on the continent under control.

Do you have a favorite scene in Dragon’s First Rule?

Probably when Ariel sees Jett in his shifter form for the first time. She’s just blown away by his sheer size, sheer beauty, and the sheer power of his dragon.

Which one character out of all your books was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?

I think the good and noble characters are definitely my favorite to write about, while characters that are evil or nasty in nature are always the hardest to write about. It’s not so much that I see myself as good and noble (okay fine, I do!) but it’s that it’s hard to make a nasty character seem believable. They have to believe that they’re not evil, that they’re thinking is perfectly correct, and it can be hard to get that across on the page when you as a writer don’t believe in what they’re doing at all.

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?

I’m working on book 3 to the Dragons of Midnight series. It should be out in a few weeks. I originally intended to launch Dragon’s First Rule with its two sequels all at the same time, but when summer came I decided to take an enforced month off, because otherwise I’d blink and the warm weather would be gone! I live in a place with extremely cold winters, and sometimes it has felt like I’ve missed summer because I worked through it. I usually console myself with the fact that at least I’m doing what I love: writing books. But even writers need a break once in a while! :)

__________________________________

Silver Milan is a USA TODAY BESTSELLING author of paranormal romance and
urban fantasy novels. Publishing under different pen names since 2013, Silver
has sold more than 300,000 books.

When newly turned lion shifter Ariel stumbles into the realm of the dragon
shifters, she catches the eye of the dangerously attractive dragon king, Jett,
and the pair is swept up in a maelstrom of magic and forbidden passion.

Ariel, a newly turned
lion shifter, stumbles into the subterranean City of Midnight, home of
the dragon shifters. Alone and vulnerable, she catches the eye of the
dangerously attractive dragon king. Jett. He charms her and promises
help, but can she trust him? After all, he is the King of the Dragons.
Why would such a powerful man come to the aid of a common girl?

When
Jett realizes Ariel has no one, he vows to protect her, as the girl has
been turned against her will in dragon territory. He plans not only to
shield her, but to hunt down the very outlaw who hurt her.

But
Jett soon finds himself growing attached to his quirky yet beautiful
lion shifter. He begins a dangerous game with her, skirting the razor's
edge of passion. He must take care because if he surrenders to his
desire, he will forfeit not only his throne, but perhaps both of their
lives. Note: This book contains explicit love scenes and is
intended for mature readers who like their paranormal romance on the
steamier side. Inside you'll find sexy dragons, strong women, and
kick-ass magic.

Excerpt:

Ariel stared into the darkness. She could see a surprisingly good distance inside, thanks to her enhanced vision. Nothing stood out to her, and the terminus of the passage was lost to the murk. The darkness seemed welcoming, somehow.

It seemed safe to turn her back on the cave, and she did so, gazing out from the precipice to survey the valley in front of her. Ordinarily, she would have thought the wide, tree-filled expanse so beautiful. She loved nature and hiking. It was one of the reasons she had come out here in the first place.

But she felt nothing now, only emptiness. She wondered if she would ever be able to appreciate such beauty again, given what she had become.

She glanced at the cave once more. Again, she felt drawn to it, but she shook her head.

Not going inside.

Though she was incredibly upset, she didn't have a death wish. There might be a bear or something sleeping inside. Or maybe a dragon, like that stupid sign had said. Wouldn't surprise her anymore, not in the least: she was being hunted by lions who could become humans, after all. And she was one of those lions.

For now, all she wanted was to get away from those hunters. She would stay here for a few hours, long enough to be sure the animals had gone away. And then she would climb back down and get the hell out of here.

And what then? Well, she figured she would have to live out the rest of her days in the woods. It would be a solitary life, away from the technology that drove modern society. She would have to give up all her friends and family.

Maybe she could get a sat-phone or something, so she could still talk to her family occasionally. But she couldn't return, at least not until she could get the beast inside of her under control. That was something she doubted would ever be possible. Then again, moments ago she had exerted her will on the lioness and prevented her from ripping out of her skin. That was something, at least. A reason to hope.

She sat down on the precipice and settled in for a long wait. She decided she would stay here until nightfall. That would be the best time to retreat, since her beast operated best in the dark.

But so do the other lions, she reminded herself.

Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. Well, she'd sit here for a while, and make up her mind on what she wanted to do.

Maybe a minute passed before she heard a voice behind her. "Well hello."

Ariel spun in fright; when she saw the man standing at the cave mouth, she momentarily forgot all fear, forgot where she was and how she got there, and instead simply stared, spellbound.

Standing in front of the cave entrance towered the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He had to be at least six and a half feet tall. He was too gorgeous to be a model. Too breathtaking to be a movie star. She got butterflies in her stomach just looking at him. Where to begin? His hair… oh yes, his hair. It was as if someone had taken several bars of gold and melted them down to form the bouncy curls that fell around that spectacular face. His eyes were a fiery gold like his hair, almost unnaturally so. They were almond-shaped and beguiling, shining with intelligence.

His broad, bold nose jutted aristocratically from his face, perfect in every way. The plump lips of his chiseled, sensuous mouth had such gorgeous curves—if any lips were created for kissing, it was those. He had a strong, aristocratic jaw that matched his nose, and blemish-free, smooth bronze skin.

His thickly corded neck disappeared into the collar of a black and gold dress shirt, whose sleeves were rolled back to the elbows, revealing his muscular forearms. Black and gold tribal dragons were tattooed from wrists to elbows on each arm. The shirt did little to conceal the outline of his wide, powerful shoulders, and the hard muscles of his pecs that pressed out from beneath the fabric. She could make out the lines of a six-pack.

A designer belt cinched his lean waist, and below that he wore dark-washed, fitted jeans. Her eyes lingered on his groin, where—

Ariel blinked as she realized the brazenness of what she was doing, and the spell broke. She quickly lifted her eyes back to his face.

The beautiful man's lips were upturned in amusement.

She realized she was stark naked and quickly covered her breasts with one arm, twisting her torso away and covering her bum with her other hand. She kept her gaze on him, staring at him over one shoulder.

"What are you looking at?" she said.

"I'm looking at you," he replied defiantly. She hadn't noticed it when he spoke before, but even his voice was sexy as hell.

As she gazed at his haughty expression, the fear returned. Not of him, but for him.

"Are you one of them?" she said.

"One of who?" the man said, still smiling.

"You're obviously not a backpacker or camper," Ariel said. "You don't find many people who dress like European fashionistas in the wilderness of the Midwest."

"No, you don't," the man said hypnotically.

Then again, if he was one of the lion-men who pursued her, he would have been butt-naked, like her.

"Look, it's been a rough few days," she said. "I'm not in the mood for games."

"You seem in surprisingly good spirits to me," the man said.

She smiled fleetingly. "Call it a defense mechanism. Listen, if you're not one of them, then you're putting yourself at risk. I'm not someone you want to know. I have to get myself as far away from civilization as I can. Those lions did… something… to me. I could change at a moment's notice. You could die."

"Change?" he said.

She heard the distant roar of a lion echo from the valley below.

That triggered the beast, and the lioness in her clawed to get out. Clawed clawed clawed.

"I—" she said. But the words came out a growl. "Run," she managed to finish.